Disapointed with PORiverside!!

[HANDYMOM]

No offense taken Laugh. I for one enjoy living vicariously through others and see more room for me at POR when someone opts to stay elsewhere! I'm glad you got to have such a luxurious real "vacation" Thanks for sharing with us!

 

[HANDYMOM]

Even the attitude of resort's guests changed for the worse. From smiling and happy, nodding and saying hello as you passed each other in the hallways, to no looking up, no smiling, nothing. C'mon people, we're still at WDW, right?!?

imho the delux patrons are very snotty people who think the world is owed to them. Like the guy at the brewery at the boardwalk who complained that his cosmopolitan didnt taste the way he wanted so he had a manager at his table and was saying how much his waiter sucked.
thats the disney spirit right?

Don't you think generalizations about deluxe resort guests is a little uncalled for and unfair? I know I've read posts on these boards about people of very meager means that saved and saved and saved just to have an over the top experience at a deluxe vs. going twice to a lesser resort. While the average guest at a deluxe resort probably is higher income, that doesn't mean they think the world is owed to them. Remember, less than half of the very wealthy people in this country have inherited money, which means that someone in their family actually had to work hard for it. I also don't think many people would consider Disney World a place to come to be catered to. There are plenty of other destinations that would do that better.

Instead of hardening your heart against people you don't know, just be glad for the fact that you have been able to experience Disney at all. It is a very pricey vacation regardless of where you stay and the majority of people will never, ever go there! How sad! Imagine what a happier place our world would be if everyone could be a kid again (at heart) at Disney for a short time in the span of their lives.

 

[pumba]

oy oy oy........we would never be able to get into any resort for our vacations...we started off at Mods....went to Values a few times..LOVE MOVIES.....over to Deluxe four or five times........back to values.....and over to Mods......I love them all ..............we have stayed at Riverside four or five times and the same with French Quarter a few times too....luved them all....

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

 

[exwdwcm]

loved riverside......

and if you are going to split your stay between a deluxe and moderate, always best to do the mod first, then you aren't "let down" as this person was. Save the deluxe for the end of your stay. It is apples to oranges. They aren't on the same level and aren't supposed to be. If you expect a moderate to offer the same quality as a deluxe, you will be let down. They offer the different levels for all the different tastes and budgets. I hope to stay at AKL someday and hear great things about it, but I love POR too and had a wonderful stay there. If you are staying at POR, don't get worried....it is a beautiful resort. If you find problems at any resort, like moldy bathrooms, talk to the front desk, that is what CM's are there for.

 

[exwdwcm]

You have based your opinion of an entire group of people on one person who didn't like his cocktail.

and you lumped all moderates together saying the people there weren't as friendly. and based your opinion on a few days there and a few people not saying hi. perhaps they weren't friendly on your stay. but i always had nice people saying good morning as we strolled down to breakfast each day, and even nicer folks down by the pool, sharing tips and saying hello.

and the 'deluxe guests' are snotty idea i think is uncalled for as well. to each their own. if you don't enjoy being around what you consider snotty guests, then don't visit those resorts. simple as turning off the tv if you are offended by what is on. i think all guests are usually pretty chipper, friendly and nice. i am not going to rank them as snotty rich folks or unfriendly poor ones based on where they stay. it's disney people!

thanks for sharing your experience though!

 

[tink2]

It is interesting how different people have different experiences at the same resort! We stayed at AKL in Nov. 2003 and were not impressed! We stayed there due to being moved from POFQ b/c it was closed for refurbishment. We had savannah view and that was very, very cool. HOwever, we had bad experiences with the staff. Check-in was a nightmare- took 2 hours after check-in time to get our room ready (I had requested early check-in, which I know isn't guaranteed, but 2 hours after check-in time??) The cm checking me in had no clue about the resort- I requested a specific savannah and she didn't even know their names!!! (didn't get my request) Asked for bed rails for the kids- took 2 nights and about 10 phone calls with "we'll have them there in 30 minutes" each time to FINALLY get them around midnight one night) This was on my original reservation too. Noone would help my brother's family with their luggage when they got there- they asked two different bell hops who were standing around. My brother's family was placed in a room that you could smell down the hallway b/c of the smoke- supposed to be nonsmoking. They had to be moved and were placed at the end of a wing with a very long walk- that took about another hour to get them moved. etc. etc. tc. The hotel itself is nice- very neat experience. Would I pay rack rate for it- probably not! The room wasn't much bigger than the rooms at POFQ or POR. Just wasn't what I expected. I'm glad others are getting good guest services- because our stunk!
Our stay at POR the year before and POFQ this past Dec. were much more pleasant. No problems whatsoever. Smooth check-in, friendly cms, bed rails delivered with the first request- at check-in, etc. I guess it depends on which cms you are lucky enough- or unlucky enough- to encounter!

 

[disneyokw]

My parents and I "L O V E" POR. In fact my mother and I love it so much that we are specifically extending our stay where I will pay for 5 days at POR before we use our Disney Vacation Club points at OKW for 7 days.

We love the food court. We love the whole look of it. The selection is okay but you can't beat the atmosphere. Walking around the resort is wonderful. We have found the staff and guests to be friendly. We go to the bar by the main pool to get a drink and just sit and talk. We love POR (Dixie Landing) better than the French Quarters.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

and you lumped all moderates together saying the people there weren't as friendly.

But I didn't. I said in numerous posts that this was my personal experience based on the people that I ran into at POR, not all moderates. I just observed that POR guests were not as friendly as the people I ran into at AKL. Just what I experienced, personally. No generalizations, and no offense to anyone else, who I didn't run into, who happen to be fantastic, friendly people.

It's also a huge difference from what llrain said that AKL are all snobs and feel that the world is owed to them based on one jerk and his problem with a cocktail and the "normal people" statements. Totally different.

 

[exwdwcm]

But I didn't. I said in numerous posts that this was my personal experience based on the people that I ran into at POR, not all moderates. I just observed that POR guests were not as friendly as the people I ran into at AKL. Just what I experienced, personally. No generalizations, and no offense to anyone else, who I didn't run into, who happen to be fantastic, friendly people.

It's also a huge difference from what llrain said that AKL are all snobs and feel that the world is owed to them based on one jerk and his problem with a cocktail and the "normal people" statements. Totally different.

snob!! just kidding....that was totally ridiculous to refer to deluxe guests or anyone as snobs.

i hope to run into nice people when i vacation, no matter where i stay, but if i don't, no biggie. i'll make of it what i will. of course during my time as a CM at MGM, i saw plenty of guests that i wouldn't say were snobs, but were completely rude, intolerable , but i guess that's life. i don't worry about them, just worry about having a good time myself. some people let their vacation stress them out, how ironic! lol

 

[Skroops]

if you must do two resorts on one visit, it is always best to go to the moderate first! There is no way you will not compare your stay to your last couple of nights. Keep in mind that many people here are NOT paying rack rate for the deluxes so they aren't being "snobby", but rather factual about their experiences. There would be a lot less input here about deluxes if everyone had to pay rack rates! It is a matter of budget...but no one does a "moderate" hotel like Disney , it is not like a holiday inn!! PO is a beautiful resort. If there are housekeeping issues, they can always be fixed with a call, housekeeping issues (although rare) can occur at ANY resort.

 

[MEM]

I'm on the POR love train. I just returned from 7 nights at POR, and LOVED it.

We had a room in Oak Manor (9046), with a nice courtyard view with a fountain and everything, pretty nice for a 'standard' view room.

Never having stayed there, I didn't worry with making room requests and happily took what I got. The room was nice, beds was nice and firm, and all the amenties, the frige, hair dryer, coffee maker, not to mention the iron and board I didn't even think of using. Nice large (like a 27") TV set with front side A/V jacks that ARE operable. (I used them to view my digital pictures). We did have a broken leg on one of our chairs but a quick call to maintenance and they switched it out for another one.

Another big thing about POR is the quiet, their must be some good sound proofing between units cause it was nice and quiet in the room.

Then outside the room is the wonderful setting of a river running through the middle of the resort, the food court food was for the most part above average (stay away from the pizza), breakfast at Boatwrights was wonderful.

Friendly staff in registration, super fast bellhops, a great gift shop, the tranquility of the river cruise, the convenience of having 4 disney bus pickup/drop off points.

As someone else mentioned, a hidden gem of POR, that you won't find in the information packet you get when you check in is the piano player at the River Roost (the resorts cocktail lounge). If you are into singing along to oldies, standards, and campfire style songs, and have no inhibitions about doing silly things in front of people you will never see again, his shows are a laugh riot. One night when it was getting cold outside, we went to see his first set, ordered up some terrific nachos, and wound up staying for all three of his sets that night. I mean he rocks that piano, quite literally.

I will now be torn when it comes time to make future WDW plans, do I stick with a sure fire winner in POR, or do I try one of their other themes....

I totally agree! I have stayed at both resorts, love both resorts, but really feel that POR is a great value for the money -- $79 AP rate. Also, in 6 stays on-site, POR had the best Mousekeeper we have ever had, AKL, the worst.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Where are my AKL bretheren?!? I need help!!! All these people saying bad thinks about MY resort. Bad CM's, bad mousekeeping, dark rooms, snotty people...sheesh!! It's amazing anyone would even consider AKL! Had I known that I was going up against the POR Mafia, I wouldn't have posted anything! Seriously, I love the exchange of ideas that this board provides. I've said it many times before, but I really enjoy the DIS!

 

[HGLightlyj]

POR is my favorite moderate. I love the trees, landscaping, the feel of the resort, the boat to DD. AKL is my favorite deluxe. Since I joined DVC, I've missed staying at these two very different resorts.

 

[DMRick]

Had I known that I was going up against the POR Mafia,
***********
I don't think you are going up against the POR mafia, but the way some things were said, made some of us feel we had to defend. It's one thing giving an opinion about a resort based on that resorts amenities, quite another comparing it to a deluxe..how can a mod win comparing bed size, and room size, and breakfast in bed? Of course you paid for those differences.

Also, we don't happen to care for the deluxes, but I wouldn't put down a group of people because of a resort...suggesting that people from the North must be staying there because they weren't friendly. With that attitude, no wonder people feel the need to respond. POR is what it is. A beautiful moderate in the middle of being refurbished. The people at the mods may have just transferred from breakfast in bed at a deluxe, and weren't feeling so friendly, or maybe it was the last day of their vacation, or maybe you didn't look so friendly, or looked unhappy, so they decided to keep to themselves. Maybe it was the fact that there are no hallways in POR. But they could have lived and been from anywhere.
We love this resort..but the reason Disney has so many so different from each other, is to accomdate people for their tastes.

As far as the room not being as clean as it should be..picking up your phone and calling housekeeping could have cured that. The room should be ready for you, but sometimes, stuff happens.

 

[nhpooh]

My DH and I will be going to WDW in Sept. DH has a conference to go to in Orlando, so I will be going too. We will be taking a few day's to go and stay at WDW. We are thinking of staying at POFQ but not sure. We have stayed at CBR and CS. Liked both liked CS better than CBR. Have stayed at WL twice loved it, but want to try POFQ or POR this time. We have been to New Orleans so I think I would like POFQ better not sure though.

Sounds like I would like them both. Would love to try another deluxe but not in the budget now.

 

[LisaC]

Laugh - See my post from earlier today about the great stay we just had at AKL for some AKL "support"!

 

[chuds]

Tend to agree with some of the sentiments here regarding POR. Booked our first WDW trip from the UK early 04, originally booked ASMO but after looking at review sections on Dis Boards quickly changed to POR. Liked the look and theming. Present over Xmas ( Holidays), for two weeks found most CMs helpfull the CMs at transport desk V good and helpfull. Loved the planting made it seem so peacefull, although you can hear the Fireworks from epcot. Transport good especially the boat to DTD DS,s loved it night time on them is best for view arriving and leaving DTD. They do need to do something about the food court staff some can be rude others just help themselves to tips! Being a Brit were not used to tipping but just to take change on assumption that is the tip!. Rooms were OK maid service OK. Did a visit to POFQ and to be honest POR felt friendlier.

POR Xmas 2004

 

[inluvwithdisney]

We love POR! We stayed at the POLY last trip and loved it too but no more than POR! Sorry for the bad experience!

As for the Piano bar guy HE IS GREAT!!!!!!!!! We loved him too!!

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Had I known that I was going up against the POR Mafia,
***********
Also, we don't happen to care for the deluxes, but I wouldn't put down a group of people because of a resort...suggesting that people from the North must be staying there because they weren't friendly. With that attitude, no wonder people feel the need to respond. POR is what it is. A beautiful moderate in the middle of being refurbished. The people at the mods may have just transferred from breakfast in bed at a deluxe, and weren't feeling so friendly, or maybe it was the last day of their vacation, or maybe you didn't look so friendly, or looked unhappy, so they decided to keep to themselves. Maybe it was the fact that there are no hallways in POR. But they could have lived and been from anywhere.
We love this resort..but the reason Disney has so many so different from each other, is to accomdate people for their tastes.

As far as the room not being as clean as it should be..picking up your phone and calling housekeeping could have cured that. The room should be ready for you, but sometimes, stuff happens.

Hey, point taken! If you check my handle, you will see that I am also from the Northeast, in a city that many people might think has millions of rude people (which isn't the case!). I wasn't the person who said that Northerners are rude so you might want to take that up with the person who posted it.